Editor’s Note: Ava Hicks is a junior at UNCW studying Communications with a minor in Journalism. Ava also serves as a staff writer for The Seahawk and a regular columnist for Gospel Gab. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. All suggestions and inquiries may be sent via email to [email protected].

When someone is asked what their greatest fear is, they generally reply with something like “heights” or “spiders.” These are common fears among the general population because they are prevalent and unavoidable – it just is not possible to live your whole life without running into a high elevation or a creepy little arachnid.

If we were really being honest, there are things that scare us far more than any tangible thing on this planet.

When people claim that they fear heights, there is something deeper than the desire to avoid hiking mountains and climbing steep staircases. They are actually afraid of losing control and, ultimately, falling.

For example, I am scared of the doctor’s office. This does not mean I am afraid of the physical building where doctors work. In fact, I am deathly afraid of being told that I have cancer or some incurable disease. Consequently, I deeply fear pain, suffering and death.

That is certainly not the only thing that I fear. I am terribly afraid of graduating college, yet the thought of staying in college terrifies me. I am panic-stricken at the thought of getting married, yet even more horrified at the idea of staying single. The concept of being pregnant and giving birth to a human is paralyzing, yet the thought of never having my own child is filled with great sadness.

All of these things reflect one central fear that I believe the vast majority of people struggle with at some point in their lives. The fear of not being in control. The concept that no matter how put-together and cautious we are, something could come along at any moment and completely destroy our world as we know it.

This idea used to be so crippling for me and I would constantly stress about my health and the outlook for my future. However, I have gained something that brings the ultimate peace of mind, as long as it is fueled by true faith and trust.

Over the past couple years, I have grown in my relationship with Christ to the extent that I am able to find peace in knowing that He is in control. The idea of having another entity be able to dictate everything about your life is perhaps the most terrifying thought of all. However, when that entity is someone who loves you unconditionally and has a positive purpose for everything, this idea actually brings a lot of comfort.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

So much peace comes with knowing that everything I encounter is meant to bring me closer to God and every hardship is laced with blessings. Whenever I am anxious, I simply send up a prayer filled with all of my worries and struggles and I know that the Lord hears and will provide, even if it is not in the way I imagine.

Through my relationship with Christ, I am free from my fears and need for control.